Cheap Thrills Motorcycle Show & Swap Meet 2018

As expected, the third year of the Cheap Thrills Motorcycle Show & Swap Meet proved to be even bigger and better than the first two. Once again, organizers Walter and Dusty collected some of the raddest bikes from all over the Northeast and lined them up in the main lobby of the historic Asbury Park Convention Hall. Located on the waterfront boardwalk and extending over the beach, the venue is a 3,600-seat indoor exhibition center featuring a concert hall, movie theater, small shops, and restaurants. The swap was located in the concert hall of the building, and this year, the second level of the building was open to artists, additional vendors and included a cash bar. As usual, the bike show filled up quickly with visitors and locals who wanted to check out the action on what would typically be a quiet winter weekend in this beach town. The swap is another huge draw to the event and consisted of a mix of individual builders trying to move parts; chopper-focused vendors as well as individual artists.

Christian Newman, from Buffalo, NY, took home the “Best in Show” trophy for his amazing knucklehead build. The “Big Deal” raffle included a custom-made leather vest, new leather jacket, a Himalayan Heroes bike trip and a custom Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster, more on that later. Running for the better part of the day, the show and swap ended with an after-party featuring three kick-ass bands at a local bar.

The 2019 Cheap Thrills Motorcycle Show & Swap Meet will be on Saturday, February 2nd, from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm. This year there will be even more vendors, bikes, artists, and parties. Plus, there will be more awards and cash prizes for the hard-working bike builders! Part of this year’s “Big Deal” prize will be a completely rebuilt Harley Davidson 45” flathead engine ready to be dropped in a frame and start kicking. If you haven’t already, get this weekend on your calendar! Where else will you find a ton of killer choppers in one place on a cold February weekend? For more information, go to www.cheapthrillsshow.com.

“Big Deal” Raffle Bike Winner:

Chris Shelby purchased lucky ticket number 0855 and won the 1200 custom Sportster built by Cheap Thrills event organizer Walter Gemeinhardt of Kickstart Cycle Supply. Walter used parts from Biltwell, Lowbrow, Progressive Suspension and used badass paintwork from Dave at Slag Custom Paint. The prize also included a trip to ride motorcycles with Bear from Old Bike Barn over the Himalayas from Himalayan Heroes USA, as well as a custom vest and new leather jacket from Aaron at First Manufacturing.

Chris is a full-time tow truck driver from Worcester, MA. He has been working on small engines since he was a kid and has grown up building motorcycles, especially Japanese bikes and café racers. Recently, he’s gotten into Harleys and other American made bikes. Chris and his bud Jimmy Watkins are partners in the Triple Tree Speed Company. Jimmy started out on BMX bikes and eventually ended up with an ’85 ironhead XLH, tore it apart, rode it for a while, then sold it. Now he has a ’90 club style Sportster 1250.

Chris attended the New Traditions show in Worcester a few weeks before Cheap Thrills. While walking around New Traditions, he heard Walter talking about the contest and the trip to ride over the Himalayas. He had never won anything, and the Himalayas ride sounded like a good time, so he gave it a shot. Fast forward a month later to he and Jimmy sitting around a Chinese restaurant talking Triple Tree business and scrolling through Instagram. New Traditions posted a shot of the winning ticket, and the caption mentioned that no one had come forward claiming the prize. Chris had actually lost the ticket in Jimmy’s truck a short time before that. Jimmy came across it while cleaning and stapled the ticket to a supply shelf in their shop. Hightailing it back to the shop, they quickly discovered the win! Overwhelmed with shock and disbelief, they got in touch with Walter to claim the prize. A few weeks later, I met Chris and Jimmy at Walter’s shop in South Hackensack, NJ and took the photographs that appear here.

The Sportster made a great showpiece to their shop that typically handles repairs, tune-ups, winter storage, and basic mechanical work. They have also started to buy and sell motorcycles, as well as parts. Chris specializes in Honda, and Jimmy handles the Harley projects. Someday, they hope to leave the full-time jobs and devote their time to the business. The shop is located in Shrewsbury, MA, about 45 minutes outside of Boston. Check out their website, www.tripletreespeedco.com.

Be sure to join me at the upcoming Cheap Thrills Motorcycle Show on February 2nd at The Asbury Park Convention Hall. I have the distinct pleasure of awarding one lucky motorcycle the ChopCult award. The winner will receive a custom trophy and have a full feature here on chopcult.com.